Group calls for arrest and prosecution of Bishop Obinim

By GNA

Accra, Aug 23, GNA - The Ghana NGO Coalition on the Rights of the Child (GNCRC), has called on the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit under the Ghana Police Service to arrest and prosecute Bishop Obinim for domestic violence.

According to a statement signed by Barima Akwasi Amankwah, the Acting National Co-ordinator of GNCRC and copied to Ghana News Agency, said a video of Bishop Obinim using a belt to beat a 16 year- old boy and a 14- year old girl has been circulating the airwaves since August 18.

The statement said the behaviour of the Bishop violates the fundamental human rights of the children.

It noted that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Act 5 says: 'No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishing,' while Act 3 said: 'Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.'

It observed that the act exhibited in the purported video was a domestic violence issue under the Domestic Violence Act (Act 732) and also against the Children's Act 1998(ACT 560).

The statement asked whether the procedures relating to Adoption and Foster Care by the Department of Social Welfare was adhered by Bishop Obinim, since the children are not his biological children.

GNCRC added that the children were under 18 years hence the Right to Privacy including Protection of Reputation of the children, under Article 16 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The statement said there is also a media obligation to maintain highest ethical standard to protect the identification of children, but this was violated.

It called for the amendment of the Children's Act 1998 Act 560 and the Criminal Offences Act, 2012, (Act 849) which allows a 'reasonable proportion as a form of discipline to conform to the international standard of practices.'

GNCRC says corporal punishment impacts negatively on children because they only serve as quick fixes and do not provide any lasting solution to the problem.

It said the approach induces fear and distort reasoning, creates anti-social behaviour since violence breeds violence.